Lantana Mayoral Candidates Opposites

Development Issue At Forefront Of Race

February 26, 2006|By Joel Hood Staff Writer

The town of Lantana may be a quaint, oceanside hamlet, but it's by no means immune to the growing pains gripping cities throughout Palm Beach County.

About 95 percent of Lantana's annual budget pays for emergency services such as police and fire protection, leaving precious little money for other city improvements. Developers are gobbling up available land to build high-density condominium projects, often at the expense of unique, single-family homes built decades earlier. Parking is scarce, as is affordable, work force housing.

With their town at a crossroads, Lantana residents will have to choose between two decidedly different mayoral candidates on March 14.

Incumbent Mayor David J. Stewart, 52, seeking his third term in office, is at times brash, but always direct with constituents about his vision for his adopted hometown. He boasts about political connections at local, county and state levels that help raise Lantana's profile in the region and secure vital grant money for improvement projects.

In contrast, challenger Rosemary Mouring paints herself as a political outsider and long-shot candidate trying to protect Lantana from overdevelopment. Without years of experience in public office, Mouring, 59, instead draws from her volunteer community service in organizations such as Lantana's Historical Society and the Greater Lantana Education Council.

"Some of Lantana's small-town atmosphere is getting blown away by development," Mouring said. "You do need growth and you need businesses, but you need the right combination. I just don't want to see all the development in one congested area."

Mouring, a Lantana resident since 1972, was instrumental three years ago in saving the historic Mary Lyman schoolhouse for use as office space and a town museum. Built in 1929 along Ocean Avenue, the school is among the longest-standing buildings in town. Its survival is a victory for those who want to preserve the town's origins, Mouring said. But more needs to be done, she added.

If elected, Mouring said she would advocate for more local history programs in Lantana's schools and try to develop more community-run after-school programs for children and teens.

"Most of the children today don't know history, they don't know how these towns were formed," said Mouring, whose only other run for public office was an unsuccessful town council bid in 2004. "Kids want to learn and we've got to do more to keep their minds active."

Stewart said that while he, too, cherishes the town's history, there are more pressing needs facing the community. A businessman and former chairman of the town's Planning and Zoning Committee, Stewart's six-year run as mayor has helped shape the town's direction for the next two decades. Under his direction, Lantana secured $4 million in loans in 2002 to repave almost all of the town's roads, and last year spearheaded an effort to renovate the town's aging water plant.

"It's a struggle," Stewart said. "When so much of your money is tied up in paying for police and fire, there's not a lot of money to pay for other services unless you raise taxes."

Like Mouring, Stewart said he'd like to see more parking developed near downtown and other efforts to invest in Lantana's inevitable growth. But he said his long-term vision for Lantana remains the same as when he first took office.

"I'm proud of what we've been able to do; I stand on my record," Stewart said. "But we must continue moving forward."

MAYOR Job description: Three-year term. Pays $300 a month.

Candidate and Background

Rosemary Mouring: Age 59, married, mother of two, grandmother of four. Retired. Active volunteer on numerous local and regional boards, including the Lantana Historical Society, Forgotten Soldiers Outreach Inc. and the Greater Lantana Education Council. Lives in the 1400 block of West Branch Street.

What's the most important issue facing the city?

A lot of people I talk to say Lantana is losing its small-town charm. There are three huge developments going up in the heart of town, adding to the congestion. You do need growth and you need businesses, but you need the right combination. I just don't want to see all the development in one congested area. I'd like to see one section of town stand in its original form.

If elected, what projects would you support and like to see done?

We need to increase parking in the downtown area, make it a little more walker friendly. I'd like to work more closely with the Police Department to help develop after-school programs and more activities for children and teens. Kids want to learn and we've got to do more to keep their minds active.